DUANE
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Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Live Oak County. Now, every county's got a story, and Live Oak County's got a good one, so settle in. The legislature created this county on February 2, 1856, carved right out of San Patricio and Nueces Counties.
And the name? Named for its live oak trees, plain and simple. By August 4 of that same year, the county was organized, with Oakville sitting as the county seat.
That held for a good long while, until 1919, when the county seat picked up and moved to George West, out on the railroad. The railroad has a way of reshufflin' things. Live Oak County kept busy over the years as a center for ranching, farming, petroleum production and processing.
If you're lookin' to stretch your legs, there's Tips State Park and Lake Corpus Christi for recreation. But here's where the story gets some weight to it. Among the historic sites is Fort Ramirez, the first settlement in these parts.
Then there's Fort Merrill, built in 1850 to protect early settlers, back when protection was not a courtesy but a necessity. And then there's this: the Brownsville to San Antonio Oxcart Road. That road was used by General Santa Anna himself, on the way to the Alamo.
That same dirt, those same ruts. Some ground just holds its history whether it wants to or not. The marker notes there are other sites marked out here too.
Live Oak County, it turns out, has got a lot to say.
What the marker says
Created by legislature Feb. 2, 1856, and organized August 4 with Oakville as county seat. Formed from San Patricio and Nueces Counties. Named for its Live Oak trees. County seat moved, 1919, to George West on railroad. Center for ranching, farming, petroleum production and processing. Recreation areas include Tips State Park and Lake Corpus Christi. Historic sites are Fort Ramirez, first settlement; Fort Merrill, built 1850 to protect early settlers; Brownsville-San Antonio Oxcart Road, used by general Santa Anna on the way to the Alamo. Other sites marked.